The opening of another sushi restaurant on Bell Boulevard a few years ago did not surprise me — restaurants are always coming and going on this buzzing, lively street. The real question was how long this new post-COVID restaurant would survive. Crossing-fingers, it’s permanently.
Welcome to Masaaki! This modern, innovative, cohesive, Japanese restaurant allows everyone — regardless of their opinion on sushi —to enjoy a good meal. The menu has a perfect blend of surf-and-turf which offers exquisite, mouthwatering options. As someone who has been to Masaaki for both lunch and dinner, there is an obvious difference between the two. Lunch at Masaaki is quieter, offering businessmen a serene lunch environment. Dinner, on the other hand, is more of a scene. You can feel the ambiance from once you enter through the formal aesthetic and fancy finishes. The valet service adds a formal touch from the get go. Once you enter, you are promptly greeted and taken to your seat — whether that be in the private dining room or in the booth style tables in the front. The lighting definitely provides a moody, intimate atmosphere, with each table featuring a small lamp that adds to the mysterious yet cozy setting. Regardless of where you end up sitting, you must pass by the sushi counter, which never ceases to amaze me every time.
I finally sit down and my mind immediately goes to my usual rolls — the Pink Lady Roll and the Masaaki Roll. The Pink Lady includes white fish tempura, spicy kani, and avocado on the inside, topped with spicy tuna and yuzu miso sauce. Out of these two, I ended up only going for the Masaaki Roll as I wanted to try something new.
Item: Masaaki Roll
Cost: $23
Critic Rating: 10/10
Now, one of the coolest things about Masaaki’s rolls is that they’re not only filled on the inside, but some of the ingredients are also incorporated on top. The Masaaki Roll provides a refreshing element with its mango, which is why it is one of my favorites. Considering how most of the restaurant’s signature rolls are spicy, I tend to need a break in between each bite, and the Masaaki Roll gives me just that.
Item: Bell Roll
Cost: $23
Critic Rating: 10/10
The second roll I did have as an appetizer was the Bell Roll, something I never had before. It was divine! From the spicy yellowtail to the jalapeño with sweet chili sauce, everything balanced out. The fish truly melted in my mouth and left that jalapeño aftertaste. This is where the Massaki Roll came in handy, offering a fresh contrast.
Item: Chicken Teriyaki
Cost: $26
Critic Rating: 10/10
For my main course, I chose the Chicken Teriyaki. First and foremost, the chicken was well cooked. Not a single piece was chewy. The teriyaki sauce that the chicken was marinated in was thick, luscious, and sweet. Importantly, even after the chicken was put on the serving dish, it was again bathed in the sauce — something that many restaurants forget about. This dish also comes with miso soup, which is served even before the appetizer. The soup acts as a palate cleanser, setting the tone for the rest of the nights’ meal. It is cozy, comforting and warm — a perfect way to start the evening. All the dishes up till this point were a 10 out of 10- just like always.
Item: Chicken Kamameshi Rice
Cost: $19
Critic Rating: 7/10
My aunt went for the Chicken Kamameshi Rice. Her overall review of this dish was that the first few bites lacked flavor. It came in a huge bowl and it took until the bottom of the rice for the elements of the dish to really show their true colors. Up until this point the dish was pretty bland and the ingredients of cooked vegetables and broth were unbalanced. However, the chicken was really tender, and the serving size was definitely big. Overall, this dish would probably be given a 7/10 because the balanced, zestful bottom made up for the top.
Masaaki is probably my favorite restaurant of all time. Their food is consistently good and the sushi is perfect. Though my rating of the restaurant is definitely a 10/10, when taking into account my aunt’s view of her main course, I would probably give the restaurant closer to a 9.5.
